Combined compressor and engine



E. C. COWLES COMBINED COMPRESSOR AND ENGINE Oct. 21, 1952 4 SheetS-Sheet1 Filed Feb. 15. 1947 INVENTOR E2 Ewart/1C! Couried -H1S ATTORNEY- Oct.21, 1952 E. c. cowLEs 2,614,497

COMBINED COMPRESSOR AND ENGINE Filed Feb. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INOR BY C; I

H15 ATTORNEY VENT Elwwaz tll 6.6010105 4 Oct. 21, 1952 E. c. COWLES2,614,497

COMBINED COMPRESSOR AND ENGINE- Filed Feb. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR H l8 ATTORN EY Ellsworth C(Zou/Ze Oct. 21, 1952 E. c. cowLEs2,614,497

COMBINED COMPRESSOR AND ENGINE Filed Feb. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOF? .EZZSwoz-fkllb'awbeS Hi5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1952COMBINED COMPRESSUR AND ENGINE Ellsworth C. Cowles, Corning, N. Y.,assignor to H Ingersoll-Rand Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew Jersey Application February 15, 1947, Serial No. 728,775

6 Claims. (Cl. 103-6) This invention relates to compressors, and moreparticularly to a combined compressor and engine each having a pluralityof pistons which are actuated by a single crank.

One object of the invention is to construct an inherently balanced,compact and rugged engine unit that will require only a small space andis of such weight that it may be conveniently carried manually fromplace to place.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter. i

In the drawings accompanying this specification and in which similarreference numerals refer to similar parts,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a compressor-engine unit constructed inaccordance with the practice of the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar View, partly broken away, showing the piston andcylinder arrangement of the compressor and engine and the mode ofconnecting the pistons to the crank shaft of the unit,-

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, taken through Figure 1 onthe line 33 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the oilingsystem of the unit,

Figure 5 is a transverse view taken through Figure 4 on the line 5--5, 1

Figure 6 is a similar view taken through Figure 5 on the line 6-6,

Figure 7 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a compressorcylinder and associated parts taken through Figure 3 on the line lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 8 is a transverse view taken through Figure 3 on the line 8--8,'

' the compressor-engine unit, designated in its entirety by 20, is ofthe portable type. It comprises a frame 2|; having a plurality ofradially extending wings 22 from which depend rods 23 that carrybearings 24 for shafts 25 having rollers 26 on their opposite ends. I

The portion of the frame 2| lying above the arms 22 constitutes a crankcase 21, shown as being of hexagonal shape, and in the flatted sidesthereof are equi-angularly spaced apertures 28 to accommodate the innerends of radially extending cylinders all lying in the'same plane andthree of which are designated 29 and serve as compressor cylinders. Theremaining three cylinders, designated 30, serve as engine cylinders andare arranged in alternate relation with the compressor cylinders andeach engine cylinder is positioned to lie diametrically opposite acompressor cylinder. Owing to this arrangement, each of the enginecylinders will be opposed by a compressor cylinder. Therefore, both theprimary and secondary forces of the engine will be inherently balancedand the unit will operate smoothly and with a complete absence ofvibration.

The cylinders 29 are provided with inlet and discharge valve mechanisms3| and'32yrespectively, for controlling communication between thecylinders 28 and inlet and discharge chambers 33 and 34 in heads 35' forthe cylinders 29, and in the engine cylinder heads 36 are the'usualinlet and exhaust spring-pressed-poppet valves 31. and 38, respectively.The movement for openin the valves 31 and 38 is imparted thereto byrocker bars 39 and llland push rods 4| and 42 interposed between therocker bars 39-458 and'cams 43 and M on cam shafts 65 in the casing 2|.The cam shafts 5 equal'in number the number of engine cylinders and arerotated for four-cycle inclined to bring their outer endsinto the samehorizontal plane for engagement with thethrust ends 49 of the'rockerbars 39 and 4B. These ends v ofthe rocker bars lie'iri-closelyspaced-relation with each other as'do' also the push rods M and 32 andthe portions of the latter lying exteriorly of the casing parts'of theunit are encased by a single casing 50. v

The casings 50 are preferably in theform of tubes and have their ends intelescopic engagement with the frame 2| and the headset for V holdingthe casings in the correct assembled positions. Suitable sealing members5| are disposed about the exteriors of the 'casings '50 and bear againstthe frame 2| and the head 36 to preclude the entrance of dirt into theunit.

The rocker bars 39 and diverge from each other from the thrust ends 49for contact at their opposite ends with the stems of the valves 3'! anda8, and at the intermediate portions of the rocker bars are bearings 52that are axially aligned with each other to receive a common shaft 53that is supported at its ends by the head 35. The chamber containing therocker bars is covered by a cap 54 which is secured to the head 35 bybolts 55 and the side walls of the cap 54 and the portion of the headenclosing the rocker bars converge toward the thrust end of said bars inorder to minimize the weight of the unit. The tubes 59 are, for the samereason,

also constructed of light weight material and by so arranging the pushrods 4I'42' that they may be encased in a common tube 50 instead ofbeing separately encased, or arranged Within the casing parts of theunit, the total Weight of the unit may be further minimized.

The crank shaft 48 is common to the compressor and to the engine and hasa single crank 56 for connection with the big end 51 of. a masterconnecting rod 53 the opposite end of which is connected to an enginepiston 59 by a wrist pin 60. The remaining two engine pistons 59 areoperatively connected to the end 57 of the master rod by links BI andpivot pins 62, and. similar pins 62 in the master rod serve. as pivotsfor links 63 connected to two of the compressor pistons. 64 by wristpins G5.

Two pins 62 are arranged in the crank end of the rod 58. and two pins 62in. the cap 66 for the rod 58. These pins are provided with notches B1in their peripheries, for interlocking engagement with the bolts 68 thatserve to secure the cap 66 to the master connecting rod 58.

They pin, 69 serving to connect the link 63- of the remaining compressorpiston 64 to the connecting rod cap 66 is hollow and has a radiallyextending hole H3 near one end to register selectively with either ofholes ll or 12. located at the opposite ends of the cap 66. The pin 69is held against endwise movement by a key "I3 in the hole TI) and one ofthe holes II or #2, depending upon the position of the pin 69 in the cap66. The key I3 is preferably, as indicated, an integral portion of aspring member 74 which comprises a pair of arms '55 and it that aredisposed angularly with respect to the key I3 and are joined together bya U-shaped spring portion H. The arm it is of less length than the arm14. Its free end bears against the interior surface of the pin 69, andthe portion of the arm T carrying the key "I3 is bent out of the planeof the portion of said arm adjacent the U Ti and is flexed, in thelocking position of the key T3, to retain the key in the holes.

The crank shaft carries counterweights 18' and is providedwithanti-friction bearings I9 and 80 seatedin the frame H on theopposite sides of the crank pin. 1 On the portion of the crank shaft 48lying below the bearing 80 is an oil pump 8! for pumping oil to thevarious bearing surfaces of the compressor and the engine. The pump 8Iis arranged in an oil reservoir 82 defined by the lowermost portion 83of the casing 2| which encircles the portion of the crank shaft. 48lying immediately below the crankcase 21. The pump is of the gear typeand its casing 84 is shown as being formed integrally with a cover plate85 for the reservoir 82 and encircles the shaft 43.

The pumping chamber 86 of the pump isv located in the upper end of thecasing 84 and contains a pair of intermeshing gears 81 and 88 the lattergear being keyed to the shaft 48 and the gear 8'! being journaled on anidler shaft 89 seated in the casing 84. The oil pumped by the gears 81and 88 is filtered by a screen 93 encircling the casing 84. It entersthe pumping chamber 86 through an inlet opening 9| and is dischargedthrough a passage 92 opening into a discharge chamber. 33 in the lowerportion of the casing 84 and encircling the shaft 48.

Within the shaft 48 is a passage 94 that com-' municates with thedischarge chamber 93 through ports 95 and extends to the crank pin 56for delivering oil to the cooperating surfaces of the crank pin and themaster rod 58 and to deliver oil to the various bearing surfaces of thelinks onnecting the compressor and engine pistons to the master rod 58.

Some of the oil discharged into the discharge chamber 93 by the pump isdelivered to the upper portion of the frame 2I for splash lubrication ofthe bearing surfaces therein. To this end the discharge chamber $3 isprovided with a discharge passage 9,6 that extends through the coverplate and the frame 2I and opens into a conduit 9i leading to the frame2I at a point above the gears 45 so that the oil discharged into theupper portion of the frame 2| will flow by gravity over the gears 46-41,the cams 43 and 44 and onto the anti-friction bearings I9 and 86.

During. its course downwardly through the frame some of the oil willalso splash upon the walls of the compressor and engine cylinders andupon the ends of the push rods 4| and 42 and will flow along thesurfaces of the push rods into the heads 36 for lubricating the bearingsurfaces of the rocker bars and the valves 31'- and 38. Any excess oildelivered to the heads 35 will return by gravity through drain pipes 98leading from low points in the heads 36 to the reservoir 32. Suitableopenings 99- in the roof of the reservoir 82 will also permit oil todrain from the crank case 2! to the reservoir.

In order to prevent the occurrence of excessive pressure on thedischarge side of the pump 8| the-passage 96 is provided with a pressurerelief valve mechanism I60. The valve mechanism I00 comprises a tubularbody IIlI that extends into the reservoir 82 and is threaded into' thecover plate 85. The body I ill has a passage I62 opening into thedischarge passage 96 at one end and its other end is controlled by aball valve I93 that is normally held in closed position by a spring I04the force of which may be varied by a screw I05 threaded into the upperend of the body IflI. Ports I08 in the wall of the body IBI permit theescape of oil from the interior of the body into the reservoir 82.

Suitable. sealing means, designated in its entirety by N31, is disposedabout the shaft 48 to preclude the leakage of oil from the lower end ofthe discharge chamber 33. to the exterior of the unit. In the form.shown, the sealing means I01 comprises a flexible sealing ring I08 thatbears with its peripheral surface against the wall of the chamber 93and. rests upon an annular plate I 09 supported by a spring ring I II)in the wall of the chamber 83. The ring I08 is held in sealing.engagement with the wall of the chamber 93 by a, retainer I I I whichextends into the sealing ring and is frictionally held therebyagainstvrotary movement.

The. upper end of the retainer constitutes a sealing surface I I2 that.cooperates with a rotat-- able. sealing member I I3 to prevent leakageof oil from the chamber 93 to the portion of the shaft extending throughthe cover plate 85. The sealing member Il3 lies within a holder H4, anda rubber sleeve H5 in the holder embracing the shaft 48 serves as ayieldable abutment for the sealing member I I3. A spring HIS-interposedbetween the holder II 4 and a washer II1 on the shaft 48 constantlyurges the holder and its contents in the direction of the sealingsurface I I2.

In order to cause the quick dissipation of the heat of combustion and ofcompression and also to maintain the temperature of the oil in thereservoir 82 at a sufficiently low value to assure good lubrication, theunit is provided with afan II8 on the lower end of the crank shaft 48 topump air over the casing portion 83 and over and between the compressorand engine cylinders. The fan IIB lies outside of the casing 2I andbeneath the reservoir 82 and its hub H9 is secured to the shaft 48 by anut and at the outer margin of the web portion I of the fan is anannular flange I2I that supports the inner ends of the fan blades I22which lie partly beneath the oil reservoir 82 so that a portion of theair pumped toward the cylinders by the fan will pass over the bottom andthe peripheral surface of the casing 83 to cool the oil therein. Theouter ends of the blades I22 are joined to a rim I23which encircles thefan and is of light weight to .add to the fan the fly-wheel eifectrequired to assure smooth operation of the unit.

All of the air flowing to the compressor cylinders 29 for compressionand to the engine cylinders 30 for supporting combustion passes througha common filter I24 which is seated upon a manifold I25 overlying theunit. At the periphery of the manifold are outlet openings I26 thatcommunicate with the inlet chambers 33 of the heads 35 through conduitsI21. The air conveyed thereby enters the compressor cylinders 29 throughthe inlet valves 3| and, upon compression, passes through the dischargevalves 32 into the discharge chamber 34, thence through dischargeconduits I 28 depending from into a manifold I29 that encircles the fanII8 to serve as a guard therefor. A suitable discharge conduit I9communicating with one of the discharge chambers 34 conveys thecompressed fluid to a point of utilization.

The manifold I25 is shown superimposed upon the fuel carburetor I30, forthe engine, which has an air intake conduit I3I extending through thelower wall of the manifoldto communicate with the interior thereof. Thefuel constituent of the fuel charges for the engine cylinders isconveyed to thecarburetor I30 by a pipe I 32 leading from a suitablefiltering device I33 and the combustible mixture'issuing from thecarburetor enters a chamber I34 beneath the carburetor, whence it passesthrough conduits I35 to inlet passages I36 in the heads 36 for admissioninto the engine cylinders.

The exhaust of the products of combustion from the engine cylinders iscontrolled by the discharge valves 38, as is well understood, and passesinto exhaust passages I31 in the heads 36 and through exhaust pipes I38to the atmosphere. The exhaust pipes I38 occupy horizontal positions andtheir outlet ends I 39 lie outside of the path of the current of airflowing upwardly from the fan IIB to avoid the introduction of the hotexhaust gases into the air stream.

The distribution of electrical current for igniting the fuel charges inthe engine cylinders is controlled by a suitable distributor I40 on theframe 2I driven by the crank shaft through gears III and I42 and havingthe usual cables I43 for carrying the current the spark plugs I44 in theheads 36.

Means are provided for manually starting the engine. To this end a shaftI45 is journaled in the frame 2I and carries a pinion I46 to'mesh with agear I41 on the crank shaft 48. On the opposite-end of the shaft 64 is aclutch member I48 for cooperation with a complementary member I49carried by a shaft I50 rotatable in a bearing I5I. The shaft I50 may bemovable endwise' in a well known manner within the bearing I5I foreffecting engagement and disengagement of the clutch members, and on theouter end of the shaft I50 is a sheave I52 having a rope I53 woundthereon for rotating the shafts to start the engine.

The unit being of light weight may be readily lifted manually forplacing it in a desired position and is accordinglyprovided with atubular member I54 which lies in a horizontal position at the upperendof the frame 2I to receive a removable carrying rod I55. The rod I55 ispreferably of such length that its terminal portions may be convenientlygripped at opposite sides of the unit, and the tubular member I54 is sopositioned that the rod I55 may be conveniently inserted thereintowithout hindrance by the adjacent parts of the unit. The tubular memberI54 may be secured to the frame 21 in any suitable manner, as forinstance, by brackets I56 connected thereto and secured to the frame 2Iby bolts I51.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent to thosefamiliar with machines of the character described that by constructingthe engine of the unit of three cylinders and opposing eachenginecylinder with a compressor cylinder, both the primary andsecondary forces of the engine will be inherently balanced. The unitmay, therefore, be of light-weight construction and the fly-wheel weightrequired for its smooth operation may also be reduced to a minimum. Afurther highly desirable feature of the present invention is that, owingto the arrangement of the fan II8 beneath the unit, cool air will becaused to circulate over the oil reservoir and the compressor-and enginecylinders and the temperature of these parts-and of the oil will at alltimes be'of a value well suited to assure the efficient operation of theunit and the adequate lubrication of its bearing surfaces.

Owing, moreover, to the arrangement of the air filter I24,'the manifoldI25, chamber I34 and. the carburetor I30 all of the air delivered to theengine and compressor cylinders may be cleansed by a single filter whichneed be of no greater size than that required for any of the individualcylinders.

I claim:

1. In a combined compressor and engine, a.

plurality of radially extending compressor cylinders, a plurality ofradially extending engine cylinders arranged in alternate relation withthe compressor cylinders and each engine cylinder lying opposite acompressor cylinder, reciprocatorypistons in the compressor and enginecylinders, a common crank shaft for all the pistons having only onecrank, connecting rods for conin the same horizontal plane and eachcylinderlying opposite. another cylinder; means for renderi'ng alternatecylinders operative as compressor cylinders, means for rendering theremaining cylinders operative as engine cylinders, reciprocatory pistonsinthe cylinders, a vertical common crank shaftf or the pistons havingonly one crank, connecting rods for connecting the pistons to the crank,a fan on the lower end of the crank shaft for blowing air against thecylinders, and a reservoir for oil extending with its peripheral portioninto the air stream flowing from the fan to the'cylinders,

3'.. In a combined compressor and engine, a plurality of horizontallydisposed radially extending cylinders all lying in the same horizontalplane, means for. rendering alternate cylinders. operative as compressorcylinders, means for rendering the remaining cylinders operative asengine cylinders, reciprocatory pistons in. the cylinders, a verticalcommon crank shaft for the pistons having only one crank, connectingrods for connecting the pistons to the crank, a casing beneath the.cylinders to encircle the crank shaft and forming a reservoir for oilfor the compres- S01 and the. engine, and a. flywheel for the shaftarranged beneath the. reservoir having fan blades positioned to blow airagainst the bottom and. the peripheral surface of. the casing and. overall of the. cylinders,

4. In a combined compressor and engine, a plurality of radiallyextending compressor cylinders, a: plurality of radially extendingengine cylinders arranged in alternate, relation with the compressorcylinders, inlet and exhaust valves for the engine cylinders; pistons inthe compressor and engine cylinders, a common crank shaft for the.pistons having only one crank, means for transmitting motion. from thecrank shaft to the valves, connecting rods for connecting the pistons tothe: crank, there being a passage in the crank shaft for conveyingoiltothe connecting rods, a pump: driven by the crank shaft forpumpingoil to the passage and having a discharge chamber encircling-the crankshaft and inv constant communication with the passage, and conduit meansfor conveying oil from the. discharge chamberhaving its outlet end sopositioned with respect to the motion transmitting means. that the oildischarged therefrom will gravitate onto the said motiontransmitting.means;

5. In a combined compressor and engine, a plurality of radiallyextending compressor cylinders, av plurality of radially extendingengine cylinders arranged in alternate relation; with the compressorcylinders, inlet and exhaust valves for the engine cylinders, rockerbars to engage the valves with. one, end and converging toward eachother to bring their other ends into closely spaced relation with eachother, pistons in the compressor and engine cylinders, a common crankshaft for the pistons, a common cam shaft for the inlet and exhaustvalve of each cylinder, means for transmitting movement from the crankshaft to each cam shaft, pairs of push rods extending along theexteriors of the cylinders for transmitting movement from the cam shaftsto the rocker bars, and tubular casings for incasing each. pair of pushrods.

6.. In. a combined compressor and engine, a plurality of radiallyextending compressor cylinders, a plurality of. radially extendingengine cylinders arranged in alternate relation with the compressorcylinders, reciprocatory pistons in the cylinders, a common crank shaftfor the pistons having only onev crank, a master connecting rod on thecrank connected to; one piston, a cap for the connecting, rod,connecting rods for the remaining pistons, pins. for connecting the lastmentioned connecting rods to the master connecting rod. and. the cap,bolts for securing the cap to the master connecting rod and tointerlockingly engage all but one of the pins to hold said pins againstendwise movement, and a spring key within, the. remaining pin. having aleg in in.- te-rlocking engagement with the said remaining pin and thecap;

ELLSWORTl-I C. COWLlJS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 911,540. Guilford Feb. 2, 1909963,788 Merrill July 12, 1910 1,450,032. Gardner 1 Mar. 27, 19231,506,674 Segner Aug. 26, 1924 1,694,218 Hazard Dec. 4-, 1928 1,804,873Hofiman 1- May 12, 1931 1,819,691. Rix Aug. 18, 1931 1,840,045 McCormackJan. 5, 1932 1,892,332. Des Roches Dec. 2'7, 1932 1,895,508 Fowler 1Jan. 31, 1933 1,934,880 Pyx et a1. Nov. 14, 1933 2,103,861. Melcher Dec.28, 1937 2,133,769 Jones Oct. 18, 1938 2,141,057 Whiles 1 Dec. 20,19382,285,215 Lotz. June 2, 1942

